HOW DO I ADMIT THE POOR STRAY KITTEN/PUPPY INTO PAWS?

"I saw this poor (hungry/thin/mangy) kitten, dog/puppy in the street - how do I admit it into the PAWS shelter?"

PAWS receives this question a lot.

To clarify --

When PAWS is not at maximum capacity and there is available space, PAWS admits only:

1) animals who are subjects of criminal cases (Rationale: Filing criminal charges is a strong deterrent to animal cruelty)

2) animals in distress or in need of rescue - with ready fosterers (Fosterers are informants or concerned citizens who are willing to care for the animal they are reporting temporarily)

While a starving kitten, dog or puppy in the street is also in distress, our limited resources simply does not allow us to take in every thin or mangy stray or abandoned animal in need of help.

First and foremost, concerned citizen must make sure animal is truly abandoned or a stray. They may check with the barangay and nearby vendors and people in the area. If animal has an owner -- please refer to FAQ on Pet Neglect.

PAWS is willing to extend vet assistance if the concerned citizen is willing to take a more proactive approach and agree to foster or temporarily keep the animal while we assist in rehoming and giving veterinary care /spay-neuter. If concerned citizen cannot foster, he/she should find someone (friends, family, colleagues, churchmates, etc.) who can foster.

A Foster Agreement Form is signed at the PAWS office. See PAWS Foster Care Agreement Form here.Those who sign the Foster Agreement may avail of medical assistance for the animal at our clinic in QC for the duration of the foster period (while the animal is under their temporary care). The fosterer will be entered into the Foster Care Database and will be informed once there is a vacancy in the quarantine section of the shelter.

Information that the concerned citizen must provide when reporting an abandoned animal or stray animal to PAWS:

Your name and contact number (landline and cellphone #) - for coordination

Exact address and location of animal, include nearby landmarks

Barangay contact person and contact # - also for coordination

Willing to maintain visual of the animal until PAWS team arrives for the rescue? Yes or No?

Willing to accompany dog/cat to the clinic and take the animal home after initial treatment? Yes or No?

Not all animals in distress can be taken in at a given time due to the limited space & number of caretakers in our shelter and due to our strict quarantine protocols.

These quarantine protocols ensure that disease does not spread within our facility which would put our current animals at risk.

We are committed to providing, to the best of our ability, optimal rehabilitation (physical and behavioral) care for our shelter animals and minimize euthanasia.

Therefore admission of some animals reported to be in need may be delayed to ensure the well-being of other animals in our care.

Due to the fact that there are always more animals in need than those who are willing to provide homes for them, PAWS’ limited-admission policy will look at the special circumstances of each “animal in distress” presented for admission which will be weighed against the needs of animals already in our shelter.

Because PAWS is a volunteer-based NGO and not set-up for rapid deployment, and despite having a fosterer for the animal already on standby, it may take hours or even days before a rescue team is available and can be sent to the location of the animal. We hope for your understanding.

Sadly, PAWS cannot solve all problems regarding stray dogs and cannot take in all strays. Thus, we focus on education efforts so that pet owners will not contribute to the stray population, nor will they abandon their pets.

The CITY POUND (through the City Vet Office or City Health Office) is the government agency officially tasked to handle and control the stray population problem.